The Effect of Sustainable Procurement Practices On Procurement Efficiency in Mining Companies in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Effect of Sustainable Procurement Practices On Procurement Efficiency in Mining Companies in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe

Tarisai Nduna¹, Dumisani Mawonde² and Josphat Nyoni^{3
1, 2}Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe
³Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of sustainable procurement practices on procurement efficiency in the mining sector in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research approach was employed where interviews were conducted with 10 key informants in mining companies. The findings of the study were that supplier training, whole life cycle costing, procurement of recyclable products and environmentally friendly products have positive effects on procurement efficiency. The study concluded that supplier training, product whole life cycle costing, procurement of recyclable products, and the procurement of environmentally friendly products have a positive effect on procurement efficiency in mining companies in Zimbabwe. The study recommended mining companies to increase the recycling of purchased products and to use environmentally friendly products in order to minimize costs.

Keywords: Sustainable procurement, sustainable procurement practices, procurement efficiency.

I. INTRODUCTION

Sustainable procurement is a fast-growing area of interest world over that both private and public sector organizations are being encouraged to procure sustainably. According to the Sustainable Procurement Guide of Austria (SPGA) (2018), the concept of sustainable procurement is getting pressure from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which emerged at a United Nations (UN) conference on sustainable development, Rio+20 in the year 2012. The main objective was to set balances of the three dimensions of sustainable development which are known as the environmental, economic, and social factors of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), (Sustainable Development Knowledge Summary, 2012). Toadd on, nations were called to make efforts for the achievement of the seventeen sustainable development goals by the end of 2030. Thus, pressure is mounting from the UN to achieve these sustainable development goals.
More so, the idea of sustainable procurement has quickly gained ground because of the growing urgency of sustainable development for the entire world (Sachs, 2012).

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